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As soon as I sent today's message, I looked in my inbox and saw this reply from yesterday's email:

I am partially quarantined due to my exposure every day as a public high school teacher in a COVID environment where all masks are voluntary for everyone. So I am seeing my husband but I'm social distancing from him because he has a lot of health needs and is vulnerable. And I am keeping my personal space apart by staying overnight, for now, at an extension room at the back of our church that has facilities. Thus it's been very hard to be in anyway intimate except to share our thoughts and prayers in the evenings together in every way that we possibly have an opportunity to. (Mary)

I'm so glad Mary sent this message.

It didn't dawn on me that the pandemic could factor into why kissing is missing during this time.

If you're in a situation where physical intimacy just isn't possible, I encourage you to do what Mary and her husband are doing -- finding other ways to be intimate.

For sure, physical intimacy matters. But, there are always times in every marriage when physical intimacy (kissing, touching, sex, etc.) just isn't possible.

Build up the emotional, spiritual, and intellectual l intimacies so that when/if the time for physical intimacy presents itself, it will be a natural outflow from the intimacies that already exist.

I'm praying for Mary and her husband -- and for you -- if you're in a situation where health or other issues are keeping you from physical intimacy.

Kevin